Wilkes University awarded 720 bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees at a virtual degree conferral ceremony on May 16. A second virtual degree conferral occurred on May 29 for students receiving the Doctor of Pharmacy degree in the Nesbitt School of Pharmacy. The virtual degree conferrals, livestreamed from campus, included remarks from Wilkes interim President Paul Adams and interim Provost Terese Wignot. Because Wilkes University could not hold its 73rd spring commencement ceremony, an in-person graduation ceremony is planned for Sept. 12, 2020, in the McHale Athletic Center of the University Center on Main on the Wilkes campus. Individuals completing degrees in both spring and summer will be individually recognized at the ceremony. Those receiving graduate degrees will be recognized at a 10 a.m. ceremony and those receiving undergraduate degrees will be recognized at a 3 p.m. Wilkes University is committed to honoring graduates at the September ceremony, but final plans are dependent on the guidance of national and local health officials.

Wilkes University recognized students for their activities and achievements in clubs, athletics, student government and campus leadership at its annual extracurricular awards.

Wilkes University honored students with at least two years of service to student government at its extracurricular awards marking the end of the 2019-2020 academic year. The award recognizes the countless hours dedicated to serving the student body through programming, conducting weekly business on Wednesday nights, and being a voice for students.

Wilkes University's Office of Residence Life recognized senior students for their service as resident assistants at the University's extracurricular awards. Resident assistants are hired on the basis of character, leadership, and their ability to interact with students. All of them undergo extensive training so they may readily meet the needs of residential students. The primary function of the resident assistant staff is to build a community, which is crucial to a successful residence hall living experience. They practice an open-door policy and are available day and night should students need them.

Wilkes University presented its annual academic awards for graduating seniors on May 15. Awards are presented to outstanding students for achievements in the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, College of Science and Engineering, the Jay S. Sidhu School of Business and Leadership, the School of Education, the Nesbitt School of Pharmacy and the Passan School of Nursing.

The Maslow Family Graduate Creative Writing Program awarded the Faculty and Alumni Scholarship at its closing banquet on January 10, 2020. The Faculty and Alumni Scholarship is awarded annually to one or more incoming students at the M.A. level of the Wilkes creative writing program based on financial need and a writing sample submitted as part of the application materials. The scholarship recipient(s) will be determined by a three-member faculty committee who will recommend the student(s) to the program director. This scholarship was started to offer a scholarship opportunity to students who are new to the program and was funded through tax-deductible gifts from faculty and alumni. About the Maslow Family Graduate Program in Creative Writing Wilkes University's Maslow Family Graduate Program in Creative Writing offers the master of arts and master of fine art degrees in fiction, creative nonfiction, poetry, screenwriting, playwriting, publishing and documentary film. Program faculty are working, producing writers who mentor students one-on-one through the process of creating a full-length creative project. The Graduate Creative Writing program is offered in two formats. In the low-residency format, students learn online and attend two eight-day residencies each January and June. For the weekender program, students will learn online and attend four face-to-face weekend class sessions each term. For more information, please visit www.wilkes.edu/cw or call 570-408-4527.

Wilkes University interim Provost Terese Wignot announced the Dean's List for the fall 2019 semester. To be named to the Dean's List, students must obtain a minimum 3.5 grade point average and carry at least 12 credits.

Wilkes University inducted 10 students as associate members into the Theta Delta Chapter of the Beta Beta Beta national biological honor society at an induction ceremony held during the fall semester. Associate members are sophomores and juniors who have completed fewer than 16 biology credits with at least a 3.25 grade-point average and a 3.0 overall GPA. Beta Beta Beta was founded in 1922 at Oklahoma City University by Dr. Frank G. Brooks and his students. The idea of an honor society and professional society for biology students spread and by 1925 the society became a national organization. The Theta Delta Chapter was installed at Wilkes in 2001.

Three Wilkes University students were awarded the Dr. Joseph Donald Stephens, DDS Global Scholars Award. The award provides students with scholarships to enhance their education via study abroad opportunities. The award was established by Panos Kalaritis, a member of Wilkes University's Class of 1977, and his wife, Deborah Stephens Kalaritis, a member of the Class of 1978, in honor of her father, who also graduated from Wilkes in 1951.

The Wilkes University student team tied for first place in a competition challenging students to come up with a campaign promoting the 250th anniversary of American independence in Pennsylvania. Eight institutions from the northeast region competed in the marketing event America250PA Direct Effect Innovation Challenge on Oct. 26. Now, the Wilkes team is headed to statewide finals on Nov. 19 to compete against other regional winners.

Wilkes University Theatre presents the Tony Award-winning musical, Nine. The performances will take place on Nov. 14, 15 and 16 at 8 p.m. and Nov. 16 and 17 at 2 p.m. The production is at Wilkes' Dorothy Dickson Darte Center for the Performing Arts, 239 S. River St., Wilkes-Barre.

The Wilkes University Nesbitt School of Pharmacy was awarded the 2019 Public Relations and Awareness Award from the Pennsylvania Pharmacists Association (PPA). The students were recognized at the organization's annual conference held at Seven Springs Resort on Sept. 21, in Champion, Pa.

Wilkes University students are participating in internships for the fall 2019 semester.

Wilkes University welcomes more than 500 students into the University's newest class.

During summer 2019, undergraduate students at Wilkes University engaged in research. Working with faculty on meaningful research is one of the hallmarks of a Wilkes education. Students at Wilkes have all of the educational opportunities of a large university in the mentoring culture of a small college.

Wilkes University's Air Force ROTC Detachment 752 held a commissioning ceremony on May 17 in the Dorothy Dickson Darte Center. Students from Wilkes University, King's College, Marywood, Penn State Wilkes-Barre, Misericordia University, University of Scranton and East Stroudsburg University were commissioned and received the rank of second lieutenant in the United States Air Force.

Eight Wilkes University students participated in a LEAP-AB trip to Dominican Republic March 2-9. LEAP-AB stands for Leadership, Education, Advocacy, and Partnerships-Alternative Break, coined by student leaders in 2016. Students worked with the organization Guanin, which aims to help young people discover, develop, and achieve their full potential as adults, citizens and leaders. Students donated their time doing work which addressed English as a second language and habitat and community outreach in a women's health initiative. The students shared information about women's health issues such as pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases and hygiene.

Five Wilkes University students were inducted into Pi Kappa Delta, the speech and debate/forensics honor society. In order to become a member, students must participate in three competitive events throughout the school year, participate in the speech and debate team sponsored community service event and attend weekly practices and meetings. A ceremony for their induction was held on Nov. 1, 2018.

Seventeen Wilkes University students have been appointed to the President's Student Advisory Council for the current academic year

Wilkes University recognized more than 95 students, faculty and staff at the Extracurricular Awards Luncheon for their contributions to activities outside the classroom.

Wilkes University student pharmacists Rachel Wood and Katelyn Jimison from the Wilkes University Nesbitt School of Pharmacy, participated in the Pennsylvania Pharmacists Association annual Pharmacy Legislative Day on April 16. Held at the Capital Complex, over 250 students attended to help fight for fair reimbursement. While there, they presented an information board on medication disposal. It explained the importance of proper medication disposal while handing out bags which are used to safely dispose medications.

Wilkes University's Nesbitt School of Pharmacy announced residency placements for students receiving the doctor of pharmacy degree in May 2017. Wilkes continued to match pharmacy students seeking residency training at a rate above the national average. Nationally, there were 3,497 residency positions offered and 5,160 applicants. Sixty-eight percent of those who applied for residencies were matched with a program.